Thursday, September 20, 2007
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Mogadishu (AFP) - Six people were killed and several others wounded on Thursday in fighting between rival Somali clans on an island off the southern port town of Kismayo, a commander and an elder said.The Ogaden and Galje'el clans fought on Burgabo island, 650km south of the capital Mogadishu, over the control of port tax collected from charcoal exporters.
"I saw six dead bodies in Burgabo and I believe the toll could be higher because there are a lot of wounded people who have not yet been brought to Kismayo," said Abdi Dhubo Abdi, a commander of one of the warring sides.
Abdi said he had brought four wounded people to Kismayo, about 150km north of the battlefield.
Elder Mohamed Adan Warfa confirmed the clashes spurred by control of tax in the area.
"They have been arguing for several days over money issues: every side wants to receive tax from boats exporting charcoal from the small port," he told AFP from Kismayo.
Source: AFP, Sept 20, 2007